San Diego City Wire

The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to appoint Ebony Shelton as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Shelton is the first Afro-Latina in County history to serve in this role and will start her new position on June 14.

Shelton has had a long career dedicated to serving the community, most recently holding dual roles as the County’s chief financial officer and deputy chief administrative officer, overseeing departments within the Finance and General Government group.

“Ebony has the vision, the talent, and the expertise to serve our residents and support working families as the Chief Administrative Officer,” said Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “She has nearly 30 years of experience working for the County and is a native San Diegan who is committed to our communities.”

The CAO is responsible for implementing Board policies and managing daily operations for over 20,000 employees serving nearly 3.3 million people in the region. The County provides various services such as food inspections, beach water testing, elections, social services, health programs, foster care, adult protective services, law enforcement, fire protection, parks maintenance, libraries, and roads.

“I am deeply honored by the Board’s approval and the opportunity to lead the County team in service of our residents,” said Shelton. “I am committed to driving positive change and fostering a future of prosperity, inclusivity and resilience for all in the region.”

Sarah Aghassi currently serves as interim CAO after being unanimously selected by the Board during the recruitment process following former CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer’s retirement in January. Aghassi did not apply for the permanent position.

“We extend our sincerest gratitude to Sarah for her exemplary service as interim CAO during this critical transitional period. Sarah’s dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment have been invaluable to our County organization,” said Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe.

Shelton began her career with the County in 1997 at age 19 as a payroll clerk. She advanced through various human resource and financial roles including director of Financial Planning where she managed financial planning policies and coordinated annual multi-billion-dollar budgets.

As an Afro-Latina with Black and Salvadoran ancestry, Shelton acknowledges historical impacts on Black and Latino communities and stresses equity for all San Diego County residents.

“The people that we serve are my lifelong friends and family; I understand explicitly how our decisions impact their lives,” said Shelton.

Shelton holds an Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix and an Executive Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University at Northridge. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters.